Glasgow

:For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation)

Transport

See main article: Transport in Glasgow

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Glasgow has a large urban transportation system, mostly managed by SPT (Strathclyde Passenger Transport), the only Passenger Transport Executive in the U.K outside of England. SPT, is formed and financed out of the 7 councils in the Greater Glasgow area including Glasgow City Council. It has responsibility for local trains, the subway, certain ferries and buses.

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The city has many bus services, mostly provided by private operators since bus deregulation in 1986, however SPT fund services where there is public need but no service. SPT also own and run the main bus station in Glasgow, Buchanan Street Bus Station which is a terminus point for many long distance bus and coach services as well as local journeys. A number of controversial 'bus corridors' have been invested in by Glasgow City Council focusing on main bus routes with real time bus information, and bus priority measures at a large cost. Glasgow Corporation, the municipal transport operator, is as a result of bus deregulation now privately owned by First Group, who operate a vast bus network in Glasgow including its twelve 24 hour 365 days a year services. In 2005 however, it has been asked by authorities to explain its poor service quality and maintenance issues. Other large operators in Glasgow are Arriva and Stagecoach with a number of smaller operators catering to individual districts including First Stop Travel and many others.

Related Topics:
First Group - Arriva - Stagecoach - First Stop Travel

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Glasgow has the largest urban rail network in the U.K bar London with rail services travelling to a large part of the West of Scotland. All trains running within Scotland are run by Scotrail, who own the franchise as determined by the government. This company is part of the First Group that runs the majority of bus services in the country. There are two main railway terminals which provide train services throughout the United Kingdom: Central Station and Queen Street Station. Local trains within Glasgow are however run by First Scotrail to their specification and requirements of SPT who provide rolling stock, in the distincive SPT colours of Carmine and Cream, or Blood and Custurd as it is commonly referred to! As well as the passenger trains SPT also run entirely the only dedicated underground metro system in the UK outside London; the Glasgow Subway (affectionately known as the 'Clockwork Orange' due to its single, circular line and the garish orange colour of the trains). The Subway is best for visiting the West End, with its University, museums and galleries. A single ticket is £1, and a return £2, however after 0930 a day ticket can be purchased for a bargain £1.70.

Related Topics:
West of Scotland - Scotrail - First Group - Central Station - Queen Street Station - Metro - Glasgow Subway

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A number of ferries used to link opposite sides of the Clyde in Glasgow. However these have steadily disappeared, mainly due to developments like the large number of bridges and tunnels including the Erskine Bridge, Kingston Bridge, and the Clyde Tunnel, which links Govan and Partick. The only two remaining crossings are the Renfrew Ferry in Renfrewshire, and the Kilcreggan Ferry in Inverclyde, both run by SPT but outwith the city boundary. The paddle-steamer PS Waverley, the last sea going paddle-steamer in the world still provides services from Glasgow City Centre, mainly catering to the pleasure cruise market, and a regular service by Pride of the Clyde waterbus services links the City Centre with Braehead Shopping Centre and the UK's largest IKEA store in Renfrewshire some 30 minutes downstream.

Related Topics:
Erskine Bridge - Kingston Bridge - Clyde Tunnel - Renfrewshire - Inverclyde - PS Waverley - Braehead - IKEA

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The city also has two international airports both outwith the boundary: Glasgow International Airport in Paisley, Renfrewshire and Glasgow Prestwick International Airport in Prestwick, Ayrshire.

Related Topics:
Glasgow International Airport - Paisley - Renfrewshire - Glasgow Prestwick International Airport - Prestwick - Ayrshire

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The city is also well connected to other cities. The main M8 motorway allows road transport to Edinburgh, as well as to connecting motorways that lead throughout Scotland and to England. It is currently proprosed to extend the M74 motorway from its current end point of London Road in the East End of Glasgow through to the Centre of the City to provide the west of Glasgow, the M77, Renfrewshire and the airports a better connection with the South, and England. It is also proproded to re-name the motorway as the M6 should this occur. This should also relieve traffic congestion on the M8 at the Kingston Bridge, however the road is currently subject to a number of enviromental objections, as it has done since the first proposal in the 1970's.

Related Topics:
M8 - Scotland - England - M74 - M77 - Renfrewshire - M6 - Kingston Bridge

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